Lynn Simons | |
|---|---|
| 17th Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction | |
| In office January 1, 1979 [1] –January 7, 1991 [2] | |
| Preceded by | Robert G. Schrader |
| Succeeded by | Diana Ohman |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | University of Colorado University of Wyoming |
Lynn Simons is an American politician and educator who served as the 17th Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1979 to 1991,as a member of the Democratic Party. She unsuccessfully sought the Democratic senatorial nomination in 1988.
Lynn Simons graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Colorado and a master's degree in American studies from the University of Wyoming. [3] In 1957,she joined the American Civil Liberties Union. [4]
In 1971,Simons was appointed by Governor Stanley K. Hathaway to a six-year term on the Wyoming Board of Education to replace Harry F. Hays. [5] She was selected to serve as president of the Wyoming Committee on School Organization in 1975. [6] During her tenure on the Wyoming Board of Education,she served as vice-chair and chair of the board. [7]
On April 5,1978,Simons announced that she would seek the Democratic nomination for Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction. [8] She won the Democratic nomination against Sydney Spiegel,a history teacher,and defeated incumbent Republican Superintendent Robert Schrader. [9] [10] She was reelected in 1982 and 1986. [11] [12] In 1990,Simons sought reelection,but was defeated by Republican nominee Diana Ohman. [13]
During the 1980 presidential election Simons endorsed President Jimmy Carter for reelection. [14] In 1982,she gave support to a court case in which the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the children of illegal immigrants could get a free public education. [15] During the 1984 presidential election she endorsed Senator Gary Hart for the Democratic presidential nomination. [16] In 1985,Simons led a twenty member education delegation that visited schools in China and the Soviet Union. [17] In 1985,Lynn was named to the Steering Committee of the Education Commission of the States. [18]
Simons sought the Democratic nomination for the 1988 United States Senate election,but lost in the Democratic primary to John P. Vinch. [19] [20]
Simons is the last Democrat to serve in this position.
Simons was appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve as a six-state region representative for Secretary of Education Richard Riley in 1993. [21] In 2003,she was appointed by Governor Dave Freudenthal to be Wyoming planning coordinator,but only served for five months before leaving the office. [22] [23] During the 2020 presidential election Simons endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination. [24]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lynn Simons | 69,261 | 52.70% | |
| Republican | Robert Schrader (incumbent) | 62,165 | 47.30% | |
| Total votes | 131,426 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lynn Simons (incumbent) | 92,270 | 56.97% | |
| Republican | Gary Elliott | 69,699 | 43.03% | |
| Total votes | 161,969 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Lynn Simons (incumbent) | 90,978 | 57.05% | |
| Republican | Millard Meredith | 68,960 | 42.95% | |
| Total votes | 159,938 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Diana Ohman | 91,223 | 57.90% | |
| Democratic | Lynn Simons (incumbent) | 66,319 | 42.10% | |
| Total votes | 157,542 | 100.00% | ||